We first met long before we ever imagined we’d end up here—back at Gurrie Middle School, when life felt a little simpler. What started as a friendship slowly grew through moments that seemed small at the time but would later mean everything: dances at Fortnightly, neighborhood night games, music-filled evenings stretched out on hammocks, and late-night laughter around bonfires. Eventually, we shared our first kiss at LT’s homecoming dance our freshman year of high school. Even then, there was always something between us—just never quite the right timing. After high school, life pulled us in different directions. We went off to our respective colleges, building separate lives, yet somehow always found our way back to each other during breaks at home. Those visits were filled with more bonfires, poker nights, and an easy, familiar connection that never faded, no matter how much time passed. It was during those college years that we realized we had actually met for the very first time much earlier—playing on the same red team in a District 105 basketball league when we were 12 years old, unaware that fate was already at work. It wasn’t until we both found ourselves in Chicago that everything finally clicked. What had always lingered quietly in the background came fully into focus. Our days were soon filled with a variety of sports leagues, evenings spent watching fireworks along the lakefront, and countless concerts—including an unforgettable night seeing Kygo headline Lollapalooza. Our city adventures, often fueled by Malört (which we proudly stand by), only added to the story. Somewhere along the way, after more than 16 years of friendship, shared history, and undeniable chemistry, we stopped pretending this was anything less than what it had always been. It turns out the best love stories aren’t rushed—they take their time. And ours was worth the wait.